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FROM THE FIELD

Displaced Children throughout North Caucasus celebrate International Children’s Day

14 Jun 2007 11:43:12 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

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children in the district celebrated with songs of ‘no more war, just peace’, and expressed their love to their parents who have been with them through difficult times
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

Background

• Chechnya war

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Some 300 children enrolled in World Vision Russian Federation programs took part in educational and joyful celebrations to mark International Children's Day throughout the North Caucasus

Most of the children belong to families who fled the fighting in Chechnya and North Ossetia when the conflicts began a decade ago. All continue to live with the uncertainty and condition of displacement while others are still living with the memories of war.

Working with local partners in North Ossetia and the Republic of Ingushetia, World Vision Russian Federation created three events which brought together children, parents and community leaders to celebrate together as well as learn about the rights of the child.

"It has been a privilege to be a partner in these International Children's Days events', said World Vision Russian Federation National Director Siobhan Kimmerle.

'Our work in the North Caucusus allows a much needed safe space for children to enjoy their childhoods again and to learn to respect each others differences, and where parents from divided communities can meet their neighbours informally and establish relationships' added Kimmerle.

A recently opened Child Friendly Space in the Sliptsovski district in Ingushetia hosted some 80 youngsters and their parents.

'This centre meets a very real need and lifts part of the burden our Administration faces, thank you' said Marem Amriova, Deputy Head of the Administration of the Suzhenski District, a longtime partner of World Vision Russian Federation.

Media coverage of this event and the spirit of celebration for the children was acknowledged by the President of the Republic of Ingushetia, who sent 300 copies of a local cultural DVD to the centre.

A further 169 children in the district celebrated with songs of 'no more war, just peace', and expressed their love to their parents who have been with them through difficult times. World Vision has been conducting psychosocial programs for these children to assist them to cope with their continuing displacement, the horror of war and to encourage a normal way of life.

In North Ossetia, children celebrated in a community center opened just two weeks ago. This community centre is the first centre for a decade in which the Ossetians and Ingush communities will be able to meet and engage in constructive activities.

'I am very happy that now the kids have a place to socialize with each other in an informal environment, where they are not pressured by anyone. It is very important to work with young children and help them learn to understand each other because once they grow up, it becomes difficult to get rid of the stereotypes that then cause conflict' said Izolda Tsakoeva, the centre's librarian and mother of two children.

World Vision integrated response in the region includes health, vocational training and psychosocial components.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Thu Jun 14 12:37:40 2007